Franciscan Mantras
Josef composed original words of the Journey Into God to be sung in a similar way as the mantras based on the writings of St. Clare and St. Francis (Love Holding Love).
Here you can open and download the music of the „Journey of the Heart“.
St. Bonaventure´s great work „The Journey Into God“ (Itinerarium Mentis in Dem), is a mystical writing of greatest value. This CD, produced by the Raischl family, holds mantras based on the original texts of the Journey.
An invitation to contemplation par excellence with simple melodies. A home made production of the Raischl family.
Please write to josef.raischl@t-online.de to order a CD.
You can listen to the songs integrated in the Online Retreat.
1. The God of Lights
Bonaventure names God as the Mother and Source of all so that we can appreciate ourselves as vessels open to receive God´s gifts. This is a prayer for all our beginnings and endings.
Prologue 1
I call upon the Eternal Source from whom all illumination flows as from the God of lights and from whom comes every good and perfect gift.
2. Way to Peace
The cross leads us to peace. The Crucified Christ redeems us of all temptations of making peace by the means of power or weapons.
Prologue 3
There is no other way to peace but through the most burning love of the Crucified.
3. Movement into God
Prayer is the motor of the journey, the mother and wellspring of our spiritual energy, and can stir our heart.
Prologue 5 and Chapter 1,1
Prayer is the mother and the well-spring of the movement into God. It´s important that you do not hurry, but just take your time and ruminate slowly and just take your time.
4. Journey of the Heart
Rising above oneself is the beginning of the journey of the heart leading to true happiness.
Chapter 1,1
Rise above yourself by a journey of the heart to find happiness, and enjoy the highest good!
5. Magnify God
St. Francis´ Canticle of the Creatures is the backdrop of St. Bonaventure´s ecstatic experience of creation.
Chapter I,15
IIn all creation you may see, hear, praise, love and adore, magnify and honor your God.
6. Fountain of Delight
Bonaventure revels in the delight of our sense experience, appreciating above all the sweetness of the power, wisdom and goodness of God.
Chapter 2,8
It is in God alone that the true fountain of delight is to be found.
7. Truth Within Yourself
All that is in us can lead to the Divine, that is, to Truth itself.
Chapter 3,3
You are able to see within yourself the truth which teaches you.
8. Rooted in Love
This mantra sums up all that is important in our lives, namely, faith and love. Here Bonaventure encourages us to live an intimate relationship with Christ.
Chapter 4,8
Let us be rooted and grounded in love, made into the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are made to be a daughter of God, a spouse and a friend, made to be member, a sister and a coheir of Christ the head.
9. All in All
Alpha/Omega—God, the Beginning and End, who is all in all, like a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere.
Chapter 5,6 and 8
Alpha and Omega, all-embracing, all in all!
10. See the Good
God is all Good, the all-embracive Word of creation. And we are challenged to look for this good God in every human situation.
Chapter 6,2: See the purity of the Good, the Word in which all things are spoken, the Gift in which all goods are given, the Supreme and Highest Good!
Alles Gute sehen, in seiner Reinheit: das Wort, mit dem alles gesagt ist, das Geschenk, das alles Gute enthält, das höchste und beste Gut!
11. Union with the One
We are invited to let everything go, to leave all behind, and open ourselves to be embraced by God´s love. This is union with the One.
Chapter 7,5
My friend, being strengthened for your journey, leave behind the world of the senses.
In this state of unknowing allow yourself to be drawn back into unity with the One.
12. Ask Grace
St. Bonaventure encourages us to make the Passover into God by an abandonment of all we know for the God who dwells in unapproachable light.
Chapter 7,6
Ask grace, not doctrine; desire, not intellect; the groaning of prayer and not studious reading; the Spouse, not the teacher; God, not a human being; darkness, not clarity.
Voices: Bernadette, Jona, Elia and Josef Raischl – Cello/Campanula: Chiara Raischl – Guitars: Josef Raischl – Recorders: Josef Raischl – Piano: Elia &Josef Raischl – Drums/ Bass: Jona Raischl
Recording & Copyright: © Jona Raischl, 2022
Twenty-six mantras taken directly from the writings of Saints Francis and Clare on two CDs, background information on Francis and Clare, and a 16 page booklet explaining each chant.
We have consistently seen pilgrims become excited when they are exposed to the spirituality of these two saints, Sts. Francis and Clare. And the idea came to us to share some kernels of their affective spirituality from their actual writings, composing mantras in the hope that rhythmic, repetitive singing would enable each one of us to experience the burning love they had for God, for Jesus Christ.
For this reason, we have chosen to present several texts in their original languages of composition: Latin, Italian, and Umbrian dialect, the language of Francis and Clare.
Original Texts of St. Clare
All for Your Love
Be Transformed
Burning Love
For Those who Love
Joy of the Angels
Original Texts of St. Francis
With a Pure Heart
With Great Humility
| CD 1: Pax (St. Francis) Franciscan Greeting – Altissimo Glorioso Dio – Burning Love – With a Pure Heart and Mind – Be Transformed – Carry Him in Love – Welcome Christ – Canticle of the Creatures – Joyful Hope – Virgin Made Church – Spiritual Motherhood – God Alone – Love Holding Love CD 2: Bonum (St. Clare) Hidden Treasure – Summum Bonum – All for Our Love – Altissimu Signore – Paschal Love – With Great Humility – For Those Who Love – Deus Meus et Omnia – Joy of the Angels – Tu Es Sanctus – Close to Christ’s Mother – We Adore You |
Production: Josef Raischl, OFS, and André Cirino, OFM.
Composed by Josef Raischl, Konrad Raischl and David Dargie
English text translations: Frances Teresa Downing, OSC, and Murray Bodo, OFM
Spanish translations: Mary Esther Stewart and Norma Mena.
Additional songbook with all choral arrangements.
These mantras are designed for:
– personal, individual prayer leading one to contemplation;
– small community groups, prayer groups, retreats, and to enhance communal prayer;
– public liturgy where hymns and responsorial antiphons are used.
St. Francis composed an unique Office, the so called Office of the Passion. André Cirino and the world´s expert on this little office, the French Canadian friar minor Laurent Gallant OFM, made it available as a prayerbook.
Josef Raischl composed melodies for the entire Office. Two artists, Marc Lisle and Christine Cavalier, illuminated the manuscript, producing artistic linkages between the written text and the iconic text of the San Damiano Crucifix.
“To pray as Francis prayed, to use his own words and arrangement of Scripture in his Office of the Passion is an enriching experience for anyone in the Franciscan family. The addition of easily learned music adds to the spiritual depth of this composition. Through it, I have learned to see Christ the way Francis saw him.”
Joseph Schwab, OFM, Director, Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ.
You can hear the office and follow the prayer which is included in the online retreat.